Community Question is a category inspired by you. Here and there readers write in with questions that are better served by the varied, experiential knowledge of those who read and contribute in the comments.

The following question is from Lindsey C.

“My sons have been doing Singapore Math for a few years and we love it. However, I’ve recently heard that kids are being taught math in public school somewhat differently than we were. I have zero plans of abandoning Singapore Math or any of the “old-fashioned” ways of teaching things (long division and multiplication, memorization of math facts, etc.); however, there are pros and cons to everything, and I’d love to hear about some of the newer methods that are worth snagging.

I LOVE the number bonds Singapore Math uses right off, and I recently saw the grids now used for long multiplication, which look like a good additional way to teach multiplication. And I don’t know if this is in the same vein, but we’ve also done the first Balance Benders book with my older son and found that fantastic.

What other “new math” ideas should I learn about? I love the idea of teaching my kids how to solve a problem from more than one angle! I always earned good grades in math, but as I moved into high school math, I usually didn’t understand what I was DOING (even though I could replicate it well), and I’d like to avoid that with my kids.”

What other “new math” ideas would you recommend Lindsey consider in her home school?

46 Comments and 16 Replies

1

Elisha Lee On Saturday, June 7 at 10:16 am

I have been tutoring for the past year at my small K-12th grade private school. I have found that there are many methods of teaching math to children and it does not matter if you child does what is the ‘NEW” way or just what has always been an option. One of my best tricks for children learning new things in math is colors! It sound a little crazy but the truth is that some children and adults see certain numbers in specific colors. If you start using there own interpretation of that in their work they are ten times more likely of grasping and retaining concepts. I even tutored a little 4th grader that used colors to distinguish between her different math functions : -, +, x, and /.

Sue in WA On Saturday, June 7 at 11:06 am

When my dd started in Algebra, she kept losing her negative signs. Her teacher suggested putting her negative signs in a different color and that has really helped. She uses a four-color pen and will use one color for most of the work and then clicks to a different color when she needs to add a negative. It works!

TxMom On Saturday, June 7 at 12:09 pm

My daughter sees certain numbers in colors (she also “sees” and verbalizes feelings in color also. I can’t imagine how to use this tho in math, which is a subject she hates and doesn’t quite “get”. Would you mind elaborating a bit more, Elisha Lee? Does it depend on the individual? Thanks!

Elisha Lee On Saturday, June 7 at 3:14 pm

It truly does depend on the individual. The girl I first taught this to picked the colors for herself so that she had a good memory of who was who in the world of math. She did not like subtraction at this point and decided brown was a fitting color. In truth colors is just a great bridge for visual learners, whether it is a reminder or if it is there to show the difference between two types of math. This little girl didn’t connect colors to numbers directly ( zeros are pink or sevens are always yellow), but instead put colors to new concepts in math that are being introduced. She decided that R for remainder when doing division would be purple. She has been able to cycle in and out different colors because once she and her memory have mastered that way math she no longer needs the help from her colors.

TxMom On Saturday, June 7 at 8:40 pm

Thank you again

Sue Ellen Brown On Sunday, June 8 at 10:49 am

The color connection thing is something I never consciously made as a child, but it really helped lay a firm foundation for many things; math, verbal, and even music. It was a system I “made up” for myself and it has always amazed me to find other folks who live in the “color” world. I think whatever tools you can use to make learning fun and easier (but most of all FUN), should be encouraged.

G8GooglyMoogly On Tuesday, June 10 at 8:14 am

Fyi… Seeing letters and numbers as colors is called color-graphemic synesthesia.

2

Jennifer Fox On Saturday, June 7 at 12:42 pm

I have been teaching sixth grade for three years, and I started right around the time when our school district began to transition to this “new way” of teaching the kids. The biggest difference I see is not only teaching them how something works, but also making sure they understand why it works that way. Memorizing math formulas only goes so far before they are forgotten. They have a much better chance of sticking if they understand the why behind it.

We were a Singapore Math family as well, though my kids are older now. Over the years I found two curricular-type resources that meshed very well Singapore. Borenson’s Hands-On Equations uses an almost chess-like approach to allow kids from about a 3rd grade level on up to intuit the principles and practices of algebraic problem-solving. Ed Zaccorro’s Challenge Math book is most useful at a Singapore 5b/6a/6b level, and extends the arithmetical and conceptual ground-work of Singapore Primary into readiness for high school programs by teaching good problem-solving skills with more complex problems. Julie at the Living Math site has a look of great ideas for rounding out math education with literature and history and various other resources.

My older kids entered the school system in 10th grade and have used a Canadian school curriculum from a publisher called Pearson. My 11-year-old is still homeschooled, but she uses the same school curriculum (just started 10th grade math!). Between the end of Singapore Math and the mid-high-school level we dabbled in a few things that didn’t work well, but mostly unschooled and explored a few enrichment resources. Wish I had a more solid recommendation for the late middle school level on up.

4

Catherine On Saturday, June 7 at 3:38 pm

If you like the Matrix method for multiplication, you might also like the somewhat similar Lattice method. The advantage to the Matrix method is that you are checking your work as part of working the problem. (At least you should be, by adding the partial products both vertically and horizontally. There must be videos on line that show how to do this. Some students LOVE the Lattice method and use it all the time. I think I have seen that it appeals to artistic students. As well, look for Partial Product Long Division. This can be helpful to students who don’t know all of their multiplication facts by memory yet. It is very forgiving if you make an error in estimating how many time the divisor will go into the number at each step. You will recognize it s the method where the number of times the divisor goes in is written ina column at the right side of the problem,then the column is added.

5

Tisha B On Saturday, June 7 at 4:00 pm

We just started Teaching Textbooks math 7 and my daughter is finally grasping math a little better. Math is extremely difficult for her. We just started them so keeping my fingers crossed.

6

Kris On Sunday, June 8 at 7:36 am

Math-U-See teaches math problems and how to do them from more then one angle. It will teach different ways of doing a problem in more then one lesson.Has a DVD lesson with each math lesson. In high school there is an online program with an instructor you can choose to be a part of or not. We have found it very helpful in learning different ways of solving a problem with some review of past lessons with every lesson.

We use Math-U-See as well. Began in kindergarten and have just finished up a year of 5th grade fractions. We like it very much. It is all about the how and why first, not just memorizing formulas. The children do well with the manipulative based, hands-on approach.

7

Gina Johnson On Sunday, June 8 at 9:20 am

KHAN Academy online. It’s free and awesome. Check it out.

Aimee On Sunday, June 8 at 11:09 pm

I love Khan Academy. I was recommending it for my college students when I realized the resources that were available for younger learners. I haven’t applied any of the techniques with my children yet but my daughter seems to enjoy her numbers and is getting addition.

8

Melissa On Sunday, June 8 at 9:34 am

We started homeschooling our 7 yo & 15 yo last year, a friend in our co-op recommended Math U See for the 7 yo. We love it so much, we’re going to switch our oldest to it this fall. Our oldest is using Teaching Textbooks right now, it’s ok, but we want a more hands on approach. Good luck!

9

Catherine V On Sunday, June 8 at 10:55 am

I am a 5th grade teacher. The “New” Math system that a lot of the schools are implementing is based partly on the Singapore Math Method. The basic reasoning behind this is to 1) catch the US up with the rest of the world in terms of Math understanding and 2) to have the same Math standards in all the states. So, what is being taught in 5th grade in say Oregon is the same as in North Carolina or even Missouri.

I say if you are happy with Singapore Math then stick with it. We just adopted a next textbook and Singapore Math by Hartcourt was one of the options.

10

Karibeth Soto On Sunday, June 8 at 11:43 am

Thanks for all of these great ideas. My son is in 7th and has autism. We are struggling with math this year because of the change to Common Core. Not sure what method it is, but it’s not the straightforward way that always made sense to him. Math went from being his favorite subject to being his “I’m not good at this” subject in a matter of weeks.
It has had a negative impact on most of the kids and has made the once popular math teacher a focus for many parent complaints. (That’s one of the problems in California, they dive in to new things before checking to see if the pool has water.) … This new math seems very convoluted to me, and I don’t always get what they are asking…
We will be using the ideas I found here to try to recoup his losses from this school year and get ready for 8th grade.
Thanks for all of the help and ideas

Laurie On Sunday, June 8 at 1:44 pm

Common Core is not a method. It is a set of standards that describe what knowledge and skills students should develop at each grade level. The biggest impact of Common Core in math is that there is an emphasis on developing an understanding of math and not just on computation. I am in a non-Common Core state, but our state started making the change of emphasis in math about ten years ago. At first, I wasn’t supportive, mainly because it was different from how I had been taught and because I didn’t understand it. Now that my daughter is in high school, I have a greater appreciation of the change of emphasis. My daughter has a understanding of math that I never had.

11

Deitan On Sunday, June 8 at 1:20 pm

The biggest confusion with the “new” Common Core math is that it is effort driven not achievement driven. So if your child decides that 4+2=9 and can explain to the teacher how they arrived at that sum then it is correct. On the flip side, if your child arrives at 4+2=6 using the “old” method then it can be marked incorrect for not using the ‘correct’ method. It is always interesting to learn new ways to approach math but not (in my opinion) when it is something akin to thought policing.

I have found the Life of Fred works really well for us. It approaches mathematics from a much different sequence than I was taught. It introduces algebra very early on so as to take the scary factor out of it and give the child the desire to reach that level (even gives clever incentive to want to get all the way to calculus). Some people use it as more of a supplement, but it is very comprehensive so as to be a curricula in itself.

Laurie On Sunday, June 8 at 1:49 pm

Actually, that isn’t the case. With Common Core standards, one principle is that there are multiple ways to solve a problem. A student who said that 4+2 = 9 would explain to the teacher how s/he solved the problem. The teacher would analyze the student’s description (called a think aloud) to determine where the child had gone off track. The teacher would help the child figure this out and then re-solve it to get the correct answer. While there are multiple ways to reach an answer, the answer still must be correct.

This particular “new Common Core” approach to math began in 1993 in Oregon. I was thankful I got married and was able to resign my teaching position when I did, because I would have refused to teach math in this way. I don’t want to walk on a bridge where the end calculation isn’t correct, but the engineer can rationalize in his head – or think aloud – how he came up with the calculation.

And in Oregon’s state math assessment, which was later abandoned because of its subjectivity, a student could still score highly on the assessment yet get the final answer incorrect. I know that with a fact; I worked side by side scoring writing assessments along with people who were also scoring the math assessments, and they hated that test. Rubbish!

I’m thankful to be homeschoolling and having my children both understand math AND get the final answer correct. We use Math-U-See and couldn’t be happier, finishing up Geometry this month and jumping into Algebra 2.

Calimommi On Sunday, June 8 at 8:26 pm

Julieanne is 100% correct. In CC testing in Ca, students receive points for the process and the final answer. So a student who gets the wrong answer but follows the process can receive more points than a student who has the right answer but doesn’t show the work in the correct manner. There are many students who do algebraic equations ~ with complete understanding~ mostly in their heads; Yet will score lower that the student who may know in part the order of operations yet hasn’t mastered basic facts. CC doesn’t allow for students whose strength intelligence is logical as they are subjected to countless lessons of procedure. Before CC students could move along once they proved mastery in facts. Imagine reading on a high school reading level yet being forced to fill out simple phonics worksheets.

Bridget On Sunday, June 8 at 10:06 pm

As an engineer who loves math and took it all the way up to complex analysis, I have two points to make: yes, you need a thorough understanding of the “why” of mathematics in order to be successful at the higher levels, and getting the right answer at lower levels is incredibly important. Furthermore, Common Core has not invented partial credit: it exists in almost every classroom in the country. Incidentally, I do not care what “process” you took to get 4+2=9, but if you add two even numbers and get an odd number, you just don’t understand math. Likewise, if you add two numbers and get a sum that is larger than twice the larger of the two numbers, you just don’t understand math. If you arrive at the correct answer without showing your work, you deserve full credit – just as if you handed in a book report without showing how you turned words into sentences.

Kathi74 On Monday, June 9 at 9:07 am

Thank you Bridget! I love your last sentence:) We just finished up public school 4th grade, and my son (and I) struggled with “showing your work” and explaining how you got your answer. He seems to be fairly gifted in math, and can solve problems in his head that I need a calculator for, lol. Explaining how you got an answer or showing your work is difficult for some, and he did get marked off numerous times for not showing or explaining his processes, even though his answer was correct.

12

Wendi On Sunday, June 8 at 7:10 pm

I am a teacher in the public school system in California, and our district just adopted a new math program that is “common core” aligned. I would agree that some of it is difficult and convoluted as others have commented. However, there does seem to be a stronger emphasis on conceptual understanding of mathematics versus just memorizing facts and procedures. More visuals and manipulatives will be used to develop better number sense. In response to the reader’s question regarding how their child will do compared with the “new math”, they will be fine as several common core programs utilize some of those strategies found in Singapore Math.

13

Shari On Monday, June 9 at 6:02 am

As a Special Education teacher in elementary, I can tell you the big push with Math curriculum adoptions (Investigations) in the past 5-7 years is mental Math. Breaking equations up to mentally obtain. There are too many strategies to list but a few are:
Subtracting- counting up to find the difference
Addition – breaking apart, jumping 100’s, 10’s, and 1’s
Multiplication- break apart, a box breaking down place value
Division – breaking down into parts,

Sri Sams On Monday, June 9 at 8:07 am

I grew up in Singapore and am very glad that some of the US schools have taken up Singapore Math. I went to college in the US and was surprised to find that the Math courses I took in college, were the equivalent to what I learned in 7th grade in Singapore. When my kids started going to school, I realized then, why the US is lagging behind. The Math curriculum taught in schools, sped through the different topics so fast that students don’t have an in depth knowledge and concept of each topic. I remembered learning just addition, subtraction, multiplication and division from 1st – 4th grade and nothing else, in Math, when I was in school in Singapore. We looked at how the numbers are connected with each other, in every way and solving hundreds of word problems and how to dissect them. Once this foundation is established, then other concepts like learning formulas, decimals are introduced.
My girls went to public schools here in Virginia. However, I supplement them with Singapore Math at home also. It helps tremendously. Math is their favorite and strongest subject.

15

Rebecca F On Monday, June 9 at 9:26 am

My kids are in public school using “Go Math” which teaches some of the newer methods. When I am helping them with homework, I find I often have to work the same problem right alongside with the “old” method I was taught. I have taught my children that how I work a problem and how they are being taught are just two different ways to get to the same answer. Neither is good or bad, just different. So far, my kids actually have learned and understood the “old” methods that I do far faster than what they are learning in their textbooks. I think it would be worthwhile to learn some of the newer methods (even just through math sites on the internet) if nothing else than to learn how you can approach and solve problems through many different methods and still come to the same answer. It is a skill that easily extrapolates to larger problems in life.

16

Debbie O On Monday, June 9 at 1:28 pm

Interesting conversation regarding Singapore math. My daughters have learned math using Singapore for 6 years. This is our first year of homeschooling and as we progress into pre-algebra/algebra, I am unsure of continuing with Singapore. It seems that they have switched over to all common core textbooks at the middle school level.
Those with middle-schoolers, what are you using for pre-algebra/algebra and what are do your children like about the curriculum? Any input is appreciated. Thank you!

Jennifer Y. On Tuesday, June 10 at 8:39 am

Lana Kennedy On Tuesday, June 10 at 11:01 am

I am reading the final book of the Hunger Games…Mockingjay. Want to get it in before the movie comes out.

20

Judy M On Tuesday, June 10 at 11:23 am

The last book I read was Knowing Your Thoughts by Emmett Fox ..Thanks Ree!

21

Steph On Tuesday, June 10 at 1:22 pm

I guess this could be considered a new method. http://www.dragonboxapp.com/ This is a link to an app that intuitively teaches algebra concepts. While not a comprehensive curriculum, I strongly believe that this is one of the best ways to introduce algebra. The shorter version is also available for PC.

22

Laura On Tuesday, June 10 at 4:26 pm

My child has ASD and is in public school. Last year the system switched to a new curriculum called Go Math. I love way it teaches kids to think.

23

Lisa Boatwright On Tuesday, June 10 at 4:59 pm

The Headmaster’s Wife

24

Tiara On Tuesday, June 10 at 5:07 pm

Mazerunner! Highly recommend!

25

Deborah Domer On Tuesday, June 10 at 5:13 pm

The last book I read was amazing and I recommend it to everyone from teens up to 105! It’s titled The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sloot ~ non fiction and heart warming yet very informative. It captivated me! Hope y’all read it! Oh, I’d love that Ipad Mni and the Itunes card!! <3

26

Mandy Blaich On Tuesday, June 10 at 5:16 pm

When you went away by Michael Baron…amazing amazing

27

Leighton Stovall On Tuesday, June 10 at 5:24 pm

Read Rage

28

Lana Muncy On Tuesday, June 10 at 5:53 pm

I just read a Geronimo Stilton book with my 7 year old and Little Blue Truck with my 5 year old. Someday I’ll make time to read “grown up” books!

While I read my Bible every morning, I like to sometimes also read a mystery. I last read the last three Kathy Reichs (“Bones”) mysteries while recovering from surgery!

30

karen lohret On Tuesday, June 10 at 7:10 pm

Just finished Killing Lincoln. Also finished a year read of the bible.

31

Deanna Dean On Tuesday, June 10 at 7:55 pm

Save the date by mary kay andrews was the last book i read.
Love the cornerpost on the building, cant wait to see whats next!!

32

Mrs.Prim On Tuesday, June 10 at 8:05 pm

Teaching Textbooks computer program hands down favorite. After hating math each yr we tried
Teaching Textbooks. Now my boys love Math! Created by 2 homeschool brothers who graduated from Harvard.

33

Rhonda On Tuesday, June 10 at 8:22 pm

Honestly….the last book I read was The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Loved it!!

34

Robin On Tuesday, June 10 at 8:45 pm

While I don’t homeschool, I struggle understanding some if the math methods they use at the elementary school my kids attend. They use Everyday Math. I found this site that helped me understand some of the methods. There is even a section specifically for Everyday Math. http://www.mathatube.com/

35

N. Calhoun On Wednesday, June 11 at 12:13 am

The Day Must Dawn…a historical fiction I first read 40 some years ago. I found it on Amazon.

36

Florence MacMillan On Wednesday, June 11 at 2:55 am

The Dark Highlander

37

Candice L On Wednesday, June 11 at 6:24 am

Cross series by Sylvia Day. Patiently awaiting for the 4th book in the series to be published.

38

DARREN O. On Wednesday, June 11 at 8:56 am

I LAST READ THE FASHION BOOK, FOR INSPIRATION.

39

Trista Stratton On Wednesday, June 11 at 11:42 am

I am a teacher, so my family refers to summer as my “cooking and reading season” because I finally have some time to relax and play! I just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) – a great reminder of how our attitude toward adversity can be incredibly powerful. I am currently finishing Killing Lincoln (Bill O’Reilly) – who can help but admire such a giant of a man (in stature and, more importantly, character)?! Thank you, Ree, for your ideas and inspiration!

40

Jessica Boprey On Wednesday, June 11 at 12:48 pm

I really need to start reading more. I read a daughter of light by v.c andrews

41

Bianca Hammond On Wednesday, June 11 at 2:02 pm

I can’t even remember the last book I read, but I am starting on The One & Only by Emily Giffin, I have read all of her books!

42

Joan Englade On Thursday, June 12 at 11:39 am

This topic is so near and dear to my heart. I starting teaching math conceptually about 5 or 6 years ago. I was teaching fifth grade and the topic of double digit dividing came up and I taught it conceptually rather than the traditional algorithm. When students were solving the problems correctly using the conceptual model and excitedly asking for more when they got it correct, I was hooked. We have met with many parents on this topic and I have lots of videos on youtube that I recorded when I was doing a form of flipped classroom last year. I now teach 6th grade and it becomes very apparent when new students move into the district and haven’t had math instruction conceptually. Here is a powerpoint that I put together explaining the “new math”. Make sure and check out the last slide with the youtube videos .http://bit.ly/SD8AEP
Also, I have lots of videos on my youtube channel: http://bit.ly/1n7LgZy
Thought I would share. Thanks.

43

Glenna C. Couts On Wednesday, June 18 at 3:22 pm

Just finished “A dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron….for anyonw who loves four footed creatures,furry or fuzzy or otherwise…If you can handle soft tears, chuckles, hysterical laughter and hysterical sobbing…this book is for you,,,

44

Leah Stallard On Thursday, June 19 at 9:22 pm

As far as new math ideas, have you heard of the “Life of Fred” curriculum? I never thought I could say this about a set of math books, but they are hilarious! They are all centered around the life of a fictional character named Fred and his encounters with math in real life, so stories are a big part of the learning. They are all written by a former university math professor named Stanley Schmidt and not only does he know his stuff, he also has quite the sense of humor! His elementary series begins with addition and subtraction and then his many books progress from there all the way up to calculus. These are so fun! Just Google Polka Dot Publishing and you should find them. Hope this helps and happy calculating!

45

Rachel Harrel On Sunday, July 20 at 11:10 pm

I highly recommend IXL even if you use it as a supplement to Singapore.

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